Woman damages gates, vehicle at wrecker service

The woman admitted to taking the car from the impound lot without paying any fees.

Leigh Hahn-Kreimeier @SDL_Leigh

A 19-year-old Stuttgart woman rammed gates and an employee's vehicle at Ollie Peter's Wrecker Service when she tried to leave the business after not paying impound fees.

Three days after Christmas, the black female was reportedly arrested and her silver 2005 Dodge Neon was impounded and taken to the Stuttgart business, located at 920 Hwy. 79 N. She returned later and said she would pay the fines, but first needed to get her debit card from the vehicle.

"(The employee) stated that when he let her in the impound lot to get the car, she jumped in the car, started it and rammed the gates and his pick up to get out of the lot and drove away and that he had followed her until she stopped at Ninth (Street) and Park (Avenue)," Stuttgart Police Department Sgt. Keith Smith wrote in his incident report.

The employee contacted SPD and the officer was able to initiate a traffic stop at the intersection. The woman admitted to taking the car from the impound lot without paying any fees. The female was then placed under arrest for second-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and theft of services, all misdemeanor charges. She was transported to SPD.

Smith then returned to the business to see the damage done to the gates, which was estimated at $400. The damage to the employee's truck was estimated at $600.

Both the owner of Ollie's and the employee filled out statements, while the suspect refused to make a voluntary statement.

The Stuttgart Daily Leader does not print names in misdemeanor cases until conviction. Arkansas County Northern District Court-Stuttgart dockets are published each Wednesday.